In the last decade, early school leaving has decreased significantly in Portugal. In 2022, the early dropout rate was 6%, already exceeding the European target of 9% foreseen for 2030
The analysis of the evolution of the early school leaving rate for young people aged between 18 and 24 - also known as early school leaving rate - is fundamental to determine whether the measures implemented over the last decades, in order to promote a greater schooling of the Portuguese population, are having the desired impact.
This Insight analyses the evolution of this indicator in Portugal over the last decade and compares the values of early school leavers with those of other European countries.
In 2022, around 6% of young people aged between 18 and 24 years old had not completed secondary education and were not studying or participating in any type of training. These young people left school without any qualification that would prepare them for the labour market.
The decrease of early school leaving in the last decade represents one of the most relevant progresses in education in Portugal. In 2011, the same indicator was set at 23%, i.e. in a period of 11 years there has been a remarkable reduction of 17 percentage points. This evolution is particularly positive and is associated with the improvements observed in the completion of secondary education and progression to higher education.
The reduction in early school leaving is certainly associated with the extension of compulsory education up to the age of 18 in 2009 and also with the expansion of the vocational track of secondary education.
The early school leaving rate was, in 2022 as in previous years, significantly lower among women (3.9%) than among men (7.9%). Nevertheless, the gap in the rate of early leavers from education and training between men and women has been decreasing (from 10.4 percentage points in 2011 to 4 percentage points in 2022).
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